Readers fume as police checks hit newspaper supply in Punjab

Newspaper delivery was disrupted in many parts of Punjab on Sunday as the police carried out a special checking of vehicles carrying dailies “to look for drugs or weapons”. Readers woke up and found their daily newspapers missing, leaving many of them surprised, frustrated and fuming.

News websites and social media quickly shared videos and reports showing newspaper vans and hawkers waiting outside police stations for hours, unable to complete their usual deliveries. The police stopped several vehicles, brought them to police stations, and checked the drivers’ background before releasing them. In an official statement, the Punjab Police explained that the checks were not designed to block Press freedom but were based on intelligence inputs that some vehicles could be used by anti-India groups from Pakistan to smuggle weapons or drugs. The police did not share whether any illegal items were found.

However, no incriminating thing has been reported to be found from any vehicle or the drivers.

Veteran journalists said newspaper vehicles were never stopped on such a massive level even during terrorism days. They said the supply of specific newspapers was sometimes blocked in Punjab and Haryana but never ever were all newspapers affected in one go.

Readers across the state expressed concern online as the newspaper delivery was delayed. Mahavir Goyal, a resident of Mandi Ahmedgarh, said no newspapers were delivered until 9 am. Newspaper vans in Patiala were checked early in the morning but allowed to go later, while smaller towns saw longer delays as vehicles were screened, causing problems for vendors and hawkers.

Special DGP Arpit Shukla clarified that the inspections were launched because of reports that newspaper vans might be used for smuggling. He said the police released the vehicles and drivers after careful checking. According to a senior police officer, they received specific tips about vans of vernacular newspapers. However, all types of newspaper vehicles were checked.

Political leaders and journalists condemned the operation. Opposition leader Partap Singh Bajwa of the Congress called the police raids a “chilling attack on Press freedom”. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal accused the government of trying to silence the media and said his party would strongly oppose such actions. Amrinder Singh Raja Warring of the Congress described the raids as “concerning and unprecedented,” demanding answers and transparency from the state.

Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi criticised the police activity, calling it undemocratic and “like an undeclared emergency”, while Congress MLA Pargat Singh said the move was a direct attack on Press freedom.

In Ludhiana, newspaper vans were taken to the local police station around 4 am and kept there for two hours, delaying the delivery. Vendors and hawkers struggled to explain the situation to anxious customers, with many saying their Sunday was ruined due to the late arrival of papers.

In Abohar, hawkers said the police released vehicles around noon due to which the newspapers could not be delivered today. These may be delivered with Monday’s papers.

Had intel inputs on drugs, weapons

The police said the checks weren’t designed to block Press freedom but were based on intel inputs that some vehicles might be used by Pak-backed groups to smuggle arms, drugs.

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Chilling attack on Press freedom

"Raids on newspaper delivery vans across Punjab are a chilling attack on Press freedom," said Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of Opposition.